1 Kings 18
Expanded Bible
Elijah Kills the Prophets of Baal
18 During the third year without rain, the ·Lord spoke his word [L word of the Lord came] to Elijah: “Go and ·meet [present/show yourself to] King Ahab, and I will soon send rain.” 2 So Elijah went to ·meet [present/show himself to] Ahab.
By this time ·there was no food [the famine was severe] in Samaria. 3 King Ahab sent for Obadiah, who was in charge of the ·king’s palace [household]. (Obadiah ·was a true follower of [L greatly revered/feared] the Lord. 4 When Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah hid a hundred of them in two caves, fifty in one cave and fifty in another. He also ·brought [provided] them food and water.) 5 Ahab said to Obadiah, “·Let’s [Go] check every spring and valley in the land. Maybe we can find enough grass to keep our horses and mules alive and not have to kill our animals.” 6 So ·each one chose a part of the country to search [they divided the land between them]; Ahab ·went in one direction [L walked one way by himself] and Obadiah ·in another [L walked one way by himself].
7 While Obadiah was on his way, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized Elijah, so he ·bowed down to the ground [L fell on his face] and said, “Elijah? Is it really you, ·master [my lord]?”
8 “Yes,” Elijah answered. “Go tell your master that I am here.”
9 Then Obadiah said, “What ·wrong [sin] have I done for you to hand me over to Ahab like this? He will put me to death. 10 As surely as the Lord your God lives, the king has sent people to every ·country [nation and kingdom] to search for you. If the ruler said you were not there, Ahab ·forced the ruler to swear [required an oath that] you could not be found in his country. 11 Now you want me to go to my master and tell him, ‘Elijah is here’? 12 The Spirit of the Lord may carry you to some ·other [unknown] place after I leave. If I go tell King Ahab you are here, and he comes and doesn’t find you, he will kill me! ·I [Even though/Yet I] have ·followed [L revered; feared] the Lord since I was a boy. 13 Haven’t you been told what I did? When Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets, I hid a hundred of them, fifty in one cave and fifty in another. I ·brought [provided] them food and water. 14 Now you want me to go and tell my master, ‘Elijah is here’? He will kill me!”
15 Elijah answered, “As surely as the Lord ·All-Powerful [of Heaven’s Armies; of hosts] lives, whom I serve, I will ·be seen by [present/show myself to] Ahab today.”
16 So Obadiah went to Ahab and told him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 When he saw Elijah, he asked, “Is it you—·the biggest troublemaker in [L you troubler of] Israel?”
18 Elijah answered, “I have not made trouble in Israel. You and your father’s ·family [L house] have made all this trouble by ·not obeying [forsaking; abandoning] the Lord’s commands. You have ·gone after [followed; worshiped] the Baals. 19 Now ·tell [summon; assemble] all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel. Also bring the four hundred fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah [14:15], who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab ·called [summoned; assembled] all the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] and those prophets to Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah approached the people and said, “How long will you ·not decide between two choices [L limp/hobble/waver between two opinions]? If the Lord is ·the true God [L God], follow him, but if ·Baal is the true God [L Baal], follow him!” But the people ·said nothing [L did not answer a word].
22 Elijah said, “I am the only prophet of the Lord ·here [left], but there are four hundred fifty prophets of Baal. 23 Bring two ·bulls [oxen]. Let the prophets of Baal choose one bull and kill it and cut it into pieces. Then let them put the meat on the wood, but they are not to set fire to it. I will prepare the other ·bull [ox], putting the meat on the wood but not setting fire to it. 24 You prophets of Baal, ·pray to [L call on the name of] your god, and I will ·pray to [L call on the name of] the Lord. The god who answers by ·setting fire to his wood is the true [fire—he is] God [C Baal, the storm god, threw lightening from the sky].”
All the people agreed that this was a good idea.
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “There are many of you, so you go first. Choose a ·bull [ox] and prepare it. ·Pray to [L Call on the name of] your god, but don’t start the fire.”
26 So they took the ·bull [ox] that was given to them and prepared it. They ·prayed to [L called on the name of] Baal from morning until noon, shouting “Baal, answer us!” But there was no ·sound [voice; response], and no one answered. They ·danced [leaped; or limped; C “limped” may suggest that Israel had hobbled itself by worshiping both God and Baal] around the altar they had built.
27 At noon Elijah began to ·make fun of [mock; taunt] them. “·Pray [Call; Shout] louder!” he said. “·If Baal really is [Since he is surely] a god, maybe he is ·thinking [preoccupied; daydreaming], or ·busy [has wandered away], or ·traveling [is on a trip/journey]! Maybe he is sleeping so you will have to wake him!” 28 The prophets ·prayed [called; shouted] louder, cutting themselves with swords and ·spears [lances] until their blood flowed, ·which was the way they worshiped [as was their custom; C a ritual performed when they thought Baal had temporarily gone to the underworld]. 29 The afternoon passed, and the prophets ·continued to act like this [raved; ranted] until it was time for the evening sacrifice. But no voice was heard; Baal did not answer, and no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Now come ·to [near/closer to] me.” So they gathered around him, and Elijah ·rebuilt [repaired] the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down [C the remains of a previous altar to God]. 31 He took twelve stones, one stone for each of the twelve tribes [C symbolizing a previously unified Israel; cf Josh. 4:2–20], the number of Jacob’s sons. (·The Lord changed Jacob’s name to Israel […to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying “Israel will be your name”; Gen. 32:22–32].) 32 Elijah used these stones to ·rebuild the [build an] altar in ·honor [L the name] of the Lord. Then he dug a ·ditch [trench] around the altar that was big enough to hold ·about thirteen quarts [L two measures/seahs] of seed. 33 Elijah ·put [piled; arranged] the wood on the altar, cut the ·bull [ox] into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. 34 Then he said, “Fill four ·jars [pitchers] with water, and pour it on the ·meat [L burnt offering; Lev. 1:1–17] and on the wood.” Then Elijah said, “Do it ·again [a second time],” and they did it ·again [a second time]. Then he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it the third time. 35 So the water ran ·off [all around] the altar and filled the ·ditch [trench].
36 At the time for the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah went near the altar. “Lord, you are the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel,” he ·prayed [said]. “·Prove [L Let it be known this day] that you are the God ·of [in] Israel and that I am your servant. Show these people that ·you commanded me to do all these things [L I have done all these things at your word]. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer ·my prayer [L me,] so these people will know that you, Lord, are God and that you ·will change their minds [L have turned their hearts back again].”
38 Then fire from the Lord came down and ·burned the sacrifice [consumed the burnt offering; Lev. 1:1–17], the wood, the stones, and the ·ground [dust] around the altar. It also ·dried [L licked] up the water in the ·ditch [trench]. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell ·down to the ground [on their faces], crying, “·The Lord is God [L The Lord—he is God]! ·The Lord is God [L The Lord—he is God]!”
40 Then Elijah said, “·Capture [Seize] the prophets of Baal! Don’t let ·any [a single one] of them ·run away [escape]!” The people ·captured [seized] all the prophets. Then Elijah led them down to the Kishon ·Valley [Brook], where he ·killed [slaughtered] them.
The Rain Comes Again
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Now, go, eat, and drink, ·because a heavy rain is coming [L for there is the sound of rushing rain].” 42 So King Ahab went to eat and drink. At the same time Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel, where he bent down to the ground with his ·head [L face] between his knees.
43 Then Elijah said to his servant, “Go and look toward the sea.”
The servant went and looked. “I see nothing,” he said.
Elijah told him to go and look again. This happened seven times. 44 The seventh time, the servant said, “I see a small cloud, the size of a ·human fist [man’s hand], ·coming [rising] from the sea.”
Elijah told the servant, “Go to Ahab and tell him to get his chariot ready and go ·home [L down] now. Otherwise, the rain will stop him.”
45 After a short time the sky ·was covered with dark [grew black with] clouds. The wind began to blow, and soon a ·heavy [torrential] rain began to fall [C showing that it was the Lord, not Baal, that supplied the rain]. Ahab got in his chariot and started back to Jezreel. 46 ·The Lord gave his power to [L The hand of the Lord was on] Elijah, who ·tightened his clothes around him [T girded up his loins] and ·ran ahead of King [outran] Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
1 Bassekabaka 18
Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya
Eriya ne Obadiya Basisinkana
18 (A)Awo nga wayiseewo ebbanga lya myaka essatu kasookedde enkuba ebula, ekigambo kya Mukama ne kijjira Eriya nti, “Genda weerage eri Akabu, omutegeeze nti nditonnyesa enkuba ku nsi.” 2 Awo Eriya n’agenda okweyanjula eri Akabu. 3 (B)Mu biro ebyo enjala ng’ennyinnyitidde nnyo mu Samaliya, Akabu n’ayita Obadiya omukulu w’olubiri eyali assaamu ennyo Mukama ekitiibwa. 4 (C)Olwali olwo nga Yezeberi atandika okutta bannabbi bonna aba Mukama, Obadiya n’addira bannabbi kikumi n’abakweka mu mpuku bbiri buli emu ng’erimu amakumi ataano ataano, n’abaweeranga omwo emmere n’amazzi. 5 Akabu n’amugamba nti, “Tuuka buli wantu awali enzizi ez’amazzi n’awali obugga bwonna, oboolyawo tunaafuna omuddo ne tuwonya embalaasi zaffe n’ennyumbu okufa, tuleme okufiirwa ensolo zonna.” 6 Ne beeyawulamu bombi okubuna ensi, Akabu n’akwata ekkubo lye ne Obadiya n’akwata erirye.
7 (D)Awo Obadiya bwe yali ng’ali ku lugendo lwe, Eriya n’amusisinkana. Obadiya bwe yamutegeera n’avuunama wansi n’agamba nti, “Ddala ggwe wuuyo, mukama wange Eriya?” 8 N’addamu nti, “Ye nze. Genda ogambe mukama wo nti, ‘Eriya ali wano.’ ” 9 Obadiya n’amugamba nti, “Kiki kye nkusobezza, okutuma omuddu wo eri Akabu ajja okunzita? 10 (E)Mukama Katonda wo nga bw’ali omulamu, tewali ggwanga oba bwakabaka mukama wange gy’atatumye mubaka kukunoonya. Era buli ggwanga, oba bwakabaka obwagambanga nti toliiyo, yabalayizanga okukakasa nti tobangayo. 11 Kaakano oŋŋamba ŋŋende ewa mukama wange njogere nti, ‘Eriya ali wano.’ 12 (F)Simanyi Mwoyo wa Mukama gy’anaakutwala nga kyenzije nveewo. Bwe nnaagenda ne ntegeeza Akabu n’atakusangawo, ajja kunzita, ate nga nze omuddu wo okuva mu buto bwange, nsinza Mukama. 13 Mukama wange totegeezebwanga, kye nakola nga Yezeberi atta bannabbi ba Mukama? Nakweka kikumi ku bannabbi ba Mukama mu mpuku bbiri, ataano ataano mu buli mpuku, era ne mbawa emigaati okulya n’amazzi okunywa. 14 Kaakano, oŋŋamba ŋŋende ewa mukama wange mugambe nti, ‘Eriya ali wano.’ Ajja kunzita!”
15 (G)Eriya n’amugamba, “Nga Mukama ow’Eggye bw’ali omulamu, gwe mpeereza, siireme kweraga eri Akabu leero.”
Eriya ku Lusozi Kalumeeri
16 Awo Obadiya n’agenda okusisinkana Akabu, n’amutegeeza; Akabu n’ajja okusisinkana Eriya. 17 (H)Akabu bwe yalaba Eriya, n’amubuuza nti, “Ggwe wuuyo, gwe ateganya Isirayiri?”
18 (I)Eriya n’addamu nti, “Sinnateganya Isirayiri, naye ggwe n’ennyumba ya kitaawo, muvudde ku biragiro bya Mukama ne mugoberera ba Baali. 19 (J)Kaakano kuŋŋaanya abantu bonna okuva mu Isirayiri yonna bajje ku lusozi Kalumeeri era oleete ne bannabbi ba Baali ebikumi ebina mu ataano wamu ne bannabbi ba Baaseri ebikumi ebina, abaliira ku mmeeza ya Yezeberi.” 20 Awo Akabu n’atumira abantu ba Isirayiri bonna, era n’akuŋŋaanya ne bannabbi bonna ku lusozi Kalumeeri. 21 (K)Awo Eriya n’ayimirira mu maaso g’abantu n’ayogera nti, “Mulituusa wa okutta aganaaga? Obanga Mukama ye Katonda mumugoberere, naye obanga Baali ye Katonda mugoberere oyo.”
Naye abantu ne batamuddamu kigambo na kimu.
22 (L)Eriya n’abagamba nti, “Nze nsigaddewo nzekka ku bannabbi ba Mukama, naye Baali alina bannabbi ebikumi bina mu ataano. 23 Kale mutuwe ente ennume bbiri, bo beerobozeeko emu, bagitemeeteme, bagiteeke ku nku, naye tebagikumamu. Nange naalongoosa eyookubiri, ne ngiteeka ku nku naye sijja kuzikumamu muliro. 24 (M)Kale oluvannyuma mukoowoole erinnya lya katonda wammwe, nange nnaakowoola erinnya lya Mukama; anaddamu n’omuliro nga ye Katonda.”
Abantu bonna ne baddamu nti, “Ky’oyogedde kirungi.”
25 Eriya n’agamba bannabbi ba Baali[a] nti, “Mmwe musooke okweroboza ente emu ennume nga bwe muli abangi, mugiteeketeeke. Mukoowoole erinnya lya katonda wammwe, naye temukoleeza muliro.” 26 (N)Ne batwala ente ebaweereddwa ne bagiteekateeka.
Oluvannyuma ne bakoowoola erinnya lya Baali okuva ku makya okutuusa mu ttuntu. Ne baleekaanira waggulu nti, “Ayi Baali, otuwulire!” Naye ne wataba kuddibwamu, newaakubadde eddoboozi lyonna. Ne bazina nga beetooloola ekyoto kye baali bakoze.
27 (O)Mu ssaawa ez’omu ttuntu Eriya n’atandika okubaduulira, ng’ayogera nti, “Muleekaane nnyo! Katonda ddala! Osanga ali mu birowoozo bingi, oba aliko ebimutawaanya, oba ali ku lugendo. Ayinza okuba nga yeebase, nga yeetaaga kumuzuukusa.” 28 (P)Ne baleekaana nnyo nga bwe beesala n’obwambe ne beefumita n’amafumu ng’empisa yaabwe bwe yali, okutuusa omusaayi lwe gwabakulukuta. 29 (Q)Obudde bwali buyise nnyo, naye ne beeyongera okulagula kwabwe okutuusa ekiseera eky’ekiweebwayo eky’akawungeezi. Ne wataba kuddibwamu, newaakubadde eddoboozi lyonna, wadde assaayo omwoyo.
30 (R)Awo Eriya n’alyoka agamba abantu bonna nti, “Musembere kumpi nange.” Bonna ne bamusemberera, n’addaabiriza ekyoto kya Mukama ekyali kisuuliddwa. 31 (S)N’addira amayinja kkumi n’abiri, buli limu n’aliteeka ku linnaalyo ng’ebika bya Yakobo bwe byali, Mukama gwe yayogerako nti, “Erinnya lye linaabanga Isirayiri.” 32 (T)N’azimba ekyoto mu linnya lya Mukama n’amayinja ago, n’asima olusalosalo okwetooloola ekyoto, ng’alugyamu lita kkumi na ttaano ez’amazzi. 33 (U)N’atindikira enku, n’atemaatema ente, n’agiteekako. N’alyoka abagamba nti, “Mujjuze ebibya bina amazzi, mugafuke ku kiweebwayo ne ku nku.” 34 N’abagamba baddemu bakole bwe batyo omulundi ogwokubiri, ne bakiddamu, ate era n’abagamba okuddamu omulundi ogwokusatu ne baddamu ogwokusatu nga bwe yalagira. 35 Amazzi ne gakulukuta okwetooloola ekyoto, n’okujjula ne gajjula olusalosalo.
36 (V)Mu kiseera eky’ekiweebwayo eky’akawungeezi, nnabbi Eriya n’asembera mu maaso n’asaba nti, “Ayi Mukama, Katonda wa Ibulayimu, owa Isaaka ne Isirayiri, olwa leero kimanyibwe nti ggwe Katonda mu Isirayiri, era nti nze muddu wo, era nkoze ebintu bino byonna olw’ekigambo kyo. 37 Onziremu, Ayi Mukama, onziremu, abantu bano bamanye, Ayi Mukama nti ggwe Katonda, era nti ggwe okyusa emitima gyabwe okudda gy’oli.”
38 (W)Omuliro gwa Mukama ne gulyoka gugwa ne gwokya ekiweebwayo, n’enku, n’amayinja, n’ettaka, ne gumalirawo ddala n’amazzi mu lusalosalo. 39 (X)Awo abantu bonna bwe baakiraba, ne bavuunama ne bakaaba nnyo nga bagamba nti, “Mukama, ye Katonda! Mukama, ye Katonda!” 40 (Y)Eriya n’alyoka abalagira nti, “Mukwate bannabbi ba Baali, waleme okuba n’omu abaddukako.” Ne babakwata, Eriya n’abaserengesa ku kagga Kisoni, n’abattira eyo.
Ekyeya Kikoma
41 Eriya n’agamba Akabu nti, “Genda olye, n’okunywa onywe; kubanga waliwo okubwatuka kw’enkuba ey’amaanyi.” 42 (Z)Awo Akabu n’agenda okulya n’okunywa, naye Eriya n’alinnya ku ntikko y’olusozi Kalumeeri, n’akutama, n’ateeka omutwe gwe wakati w’amaviivi ge.
43 N’agamba omuweereza we nti, “Yambuka, olengere okwolekera ennyanja.”
Omuweereza n’agenda n’alaba n’akomawo n’amugamba nti, “Teri kye ndabyewo.”
Eriya n’amugamba addeyo emirundi musanvu.
44 (AA)Ku mulundi ogw’omusanvu omuweereza n’akomawo n’agamba nti, “Laba, ekire ekitono ekyenkana ng’omukono gw’omuntu kyambuka okuva mu nnyanja.”
Eriya n’amugamba nti, “Genda ogambe Akabu nti, ‘Teekateeka eggaali lyo, oserengete, enkuba nga tennakuziyiza.’ ”
45 Mu kiseera kyekimu, eggulu ne libindabinda, kibuyaga ne yeeyongera, enkuba ey’amaanyi n’ejja, Akabu n’ayolekera e Yezuleeri. 46 (AB)Amaanyi ga Mukama ne gakka ku Eriya ne yeesiba ekimyu, n’adduka ng’akulembedde Akabu okutuuka e Yezuleeri.
Footnotes
- 18:25 Baali yali lubaale wa kubwatuka, eyasinzibwanga mu bantu ba Asuuli ne Kanani.
1 Kings 18
New King James Version
Elijah’s Message to Ahab
18 And it came to pass after (A)many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and (B)I will send rain on the earth.”
2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. 3 And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was [a]in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly. 4 For so it was, while Jezebel [b]massacred the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah had taken one hundred prophets and hidden them, fifty to a cave, and had fed them with bread and water.) 5 And Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go into the land to all the springs of water and to all the brooks; perhaps we may find grass to keep the horses and mules alive, so that we will not have to kill any livestock.” 6 So they divided the land between them to explore it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he (C)recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is that you, my lord Elijah?”
8 And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’ ”
9 So he said, “How have I sinned, that you are delivering your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 10 As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to hunt for you; and when they said, ‘He is not here,’ he took an oath from the kingdom or nation that they could not find you. 11 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here” ’! 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from you, that (D)the Spirit of the Lord will carry you to a place I do not know; so when I go and tell Ahab, and he cannot find you, he will kill me. But I your servant have feared the Lord from my youth. 13 Was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid one hundred men of the Lord’s prophets, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water? 14 And now you say, ‘Go, tell your master, “Elijah is here.” ’ He will kill me!”
15 Then Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely present myself to him today.”
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, (E)“Is that you, O (F)troubler of Israel?”
18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, (G)in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on (H)Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, (I)and the four hundred prophets of [c]Asherah, who [d]eat at Jezebel’s table.”
Elijah’s Mount Carmel Victory
20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and (J)gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, (K)“How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, (L)follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, (M)“I alone am left a prophet of the Lord; (N)but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who (O)answers by fire, He is God.”
So all the people answered and said, [e]“It is well spoken.”
25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, [f]hear us!” But there was (P)no voice; no one answered. Then they [g]leaped about the altar which they had made.
27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry [h]aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they cried aloud, and (Q)cut themselves, as was their custom, with [i]knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, (R)they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was (S)no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. (T)And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, (U)“Israel shall be your name.” 32 Then with the stones he built an altar (V)in the name of the Lord; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he (W)put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and (X)pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34 Then he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time; and he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled (Y)the trench with water.
36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord (Z)God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, (AA)let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that (AB)I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then (AC)the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, (AD)“The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
40 And Elijah said to them, (AE)“Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook (AF)Kishon and (AG)executed them there.
The Drought Ends
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; (AH)then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”
So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”
44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, [j]‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”
45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the (AI)hand of the Lord came upon Elijah; and he (AJ)girded[k] up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
Footnotes
- 1 Kings 18:3 Lit. over the house
- 1 Kings 18:4 Lit. cut off
- 1 Kings 18:19 A Canaanite goddess
- 1 Kings 18:19 Are provided for by Jezebel
- 1 Kings 18:24 Lit. The word is good
- 1 Kings 18:26 answer
- 1 Kings 18:26 Lit. limped about, leaped in dancing around
- 1 Kings 18:27 with a loud voice
- 1 Kings 18:28 swords
- 1 Kings 18:44 Lit. Bind or Harness
- 1 Kings 18:46 Tucked the skirts of his robe in his belt in preparation for quick travel
1 Kings 18
King James Version
18 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly:
4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
10 As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.
13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the Lord, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
15 And Elijah said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.
40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
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Bayibuli Entukuvu, Endagaano Enkadde nʼEndagaano Empya Copyright © 1984, 1986, 1993, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Tuweereddwa olukusa okuva mu Biblica, Inc.® Olukusa lwonna mu nsi yonna lusigalidde mu Biblica, Inc. Luganda Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1984, 1986, 1993, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
